Mali

Mali Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Mali in May.

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Bamako Mopti Kenieba Timbuktu

Planning a trip to Mali this May? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Mali in May

May in Mali generally has temperatures that range from very warm to very hot, with precipitation levels ranging from almost none to moderate. May is a summer month.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very warm in Bissau at 34°C (93°F) to very hot in Timbuktu at 43°C (109°F). At night it cools down to 28°C (82°F) in Timbuktu and 25°C (77°F) in Bissau. The temperatures cited for both day and night represent usual averages, but it's possible some days could be hotter. It's advisable to dress accordingly to handle the heat.

For a closer look at conditions across Mali, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Tessalit with an average of 1.3 mm (0.1 in) to moderate rainfall in Bamako with 32 mm (1.3 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Bamako sees close to 242 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore Mali by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Mali in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Mali.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Mali

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Mali?

Temperature range in Mali (May)

Precipitation variation in Mali (May)

Bamako

In May Bamako generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 39°C (102°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
40°C (104°F)
39°C (102°F)
36°C (97°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
230 hours
242 hours
233 hours
Monthly rainfall
8.4 mm (0.3 in)
32 mm (1.3 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
6 days
12 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Bamako →

Mopti

In May Mopti generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 42°C (108°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 29°C (84°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
42°C (108°F)
42°C (108°F)
40°C (104°F)
Min temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Monthly sun hours
255 hours
269 hours
242 hours
Monthly rainfall
3.8 mm (0.1 in)
8.8 mm (0.3 in)
29 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
4 days
8 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Mopti →

Bissau

In May Bissau generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
35°C (95°F)
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
297 hours
281 hours
215 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.1 mm (0 in)
4.9 mm (0.2 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
3 days
10 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Bissau →

Timbuktu

In May Timbuktu generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 43°C (109°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 28°C (82°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
41°C (106°F)
43°C (109°F)
42°C (108°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
28°C (82°F)
30°C (86°F)
Monthly sun hours
255 hours
275 hours
235 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.4 mm (0.02 in)
2.4 mm (0.1 in)
7 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
0 days
a single day
3 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Timbuktu →

Kenieba

In May Kenieba generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 40°C (104°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 29°C (84°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
41°C (106°F)
40°C (104°F)
36°C (97°F)
Min temperature
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
262 hours
267 hours
231 hours
Monthly rainfall
2 mm (0.1 in)
26 mm (1 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
5 days
12 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Kenieba →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Mali.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Mali in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Bamako 39°C (102°F) 27°C (81°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mopti 42°C (108°F) 29°C (84°F) 8.8 mm (0.3 in)
Kenieba 40°C (104°F) 29°C (84°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Timbuktu 43°C (109°F) 28°C (82°F) 2.4 mm (0.1 in)
Bissau 34°C (93°F) 25°C (77°F) 4.9 mm (0.2 in)
Tessalit 42°C (108°F) 27°C (81°F) 1.3 mm (0.1 in)

Mali weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Mali in May?

Mali typically experiences poor weather in May, part of the summer season. Daytime highs in Bamako average around 39°C (102°F), and temperatures drop to about 27°C (81°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Mali in May?

In Bamako, the average daytime high in May is 39°C (102°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 27°C (81°F).

Does Mali get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in Mali. Bamako averages only about 32 mm (1.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Mali?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Bamako, May may not be the ideal time to visit Mali.

On average, the best time to visit Mali is in January with generally tolerable weather in Bamako. In contrast, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Mali.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Mali? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Mali.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Visit Pays Dogon

We recommend visiting in December or January which is the coolest time in the year, however temperatures are still above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Must visit in Mali →